Multi-funtional device having scanner module and image scanning apparatus employing the scanner moudle

ABSTRACT

A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image in a main scanning direction. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens which is disposed between the document mount and the sensor unit and focuses the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit which is lengthened in a sub-scanning direction, faces the document mount and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2007-0076640, filed on Jul. 31, 2007 in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to a multi-functionaldevice having a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employingthe scanner module, and more particularly, to a multi-functional devicehaving a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employing thescanner module, in which an illuminating structure is preciselyassembled without being damaged.

2. Description of the Related Art

A scanner module, which is generally employed in a multi-functionaldevice having an image forming apparatus, scans image information at apredetermined position of a document with light from an illuminator andforms an image on an image sensor on the basis of the light reflectedfrom the document through an imaging lens, thereby reading the imageinformation from a predetermined position of the document.

As an inexpensive and high-intensity white light emitting diode (LED)has recently been developed, a scanner module employing the white LED asa light source has also appeared.

The illuminator for the scanner module has to secure sufficientbrightness in a region where an image is formed and equally distributeillumination to get uniform output throughout pixels of the formedimage. Accordingly, a light guiding unit is needed for guiding the lightfrom the LED to an illuminating position.

A conventional LED and a light guiding unit employing the same have beendisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,903 B1 (Furusawa et al., Published onMar. 19, 2002)

Referring to this conventional LED and the light guiding unit, the lightsource is placed at one end portion of a transparent light guiding unit,and the light guiding unit is installed into a case by sliding insertfrom one side opening of the case.

However, if the illuminator having this conventional structure isapplied to the scanner module, the light guiding unit may be scratchedwhen the light guiding unit slides into the case, thereby causingdeterioration in guiding the light. Further, when the light guiding unitis installed in the case, there is no structure of precisely guiding thelight guiding unit to an installation position, thereby causingdeterioration in precise assembly.

Also, the illuminator employed in the scanner module has to be readilyassembled so as to mass-produce the scanner module. Meanwhile, becausethe light guiding unit is made of a transparent material and has a longand thin structure, it can easily become bent. Therefore, a guide holderfor supporting the light guiding unit is required to have a structureenough to keep a straight shape of the light guiding unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides a multi-functional devicehaving an image forming apparatus and a scanner module and an imagescanning apparatus employing the same, in which an LED and a lightguiding unit are easily and precisely assembled into an illuminatorwithout being damaged, and the light guiding unit is kept straightened.

Additional aspects of the present general inventive concept will be setforth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of thepresent general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventiveconcept can be achieved by providing a multi-functional devicecomprising: an image forming apparatus; and a scanner module scanning animage in a main scanning direction, comprising an illuminator toilluminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an imageinformation of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaginglens which is disposed between the document mount and the sensor unitand focuses the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit,wherein, the illuminator comprising a light source to emit light, alight guiding unit which is lengthened in a sub-scanning direction,faces the document mount and changes a traveling path of the lightemitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and aguide holder which comprises an installation part where the lightguiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light sourceholder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of thelight guiding unit.

The light source holder may join with the mounting part by a snap-fitmanner.

The illuminator may further comprise: a hook member provided in one ofthe light source holder and the mounting part; and a projection mayprovide in the other one at a position opposite to the hook member.

The light source holder may join with the mounting part in a lengthwisedirection of the light guiding unit.

The light source holder may join with the mounting part in a directionperpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the light guiding unit.

The light source may comprise: a substrate installed at the light sourceholder; and a light emitting diode provided on the substrate.

The light source holder may comprise a holding part to hold the lightguiding unit installed in the installation part.

The light source holder may comprise a holding rib provided in theholding part and contacting the light guiding unit when the lightguiding unit is installed in the installation part.

The holding rib may have a tapered shape to reduce damage on the lightguiding unit when the light source holder joins with the guide holder.

The holding rib may further comprise an elastically transformable neckpart between the holding part and the holding rib.

The illuminator may further comprise a position determiner to determinean installation position of the light source holder with regard to theguide holder.

The installation part may be recessed inwardly and lengthened in thesub-scanning direction, and the light guiding unit is fitted into theinstallation part from over the installation part.

The guide holder may be formed with flexible material so that theinstallation part can become wider as pushed by the light guiding unitwhile installing the light guiding unit therein.

The illuminator may comprise a spacer provided inside the installationpart so that the spacer can contact and support the light guiding unitwhen the light guiding unit is fitted into the installation part.

The spacer and the installation part may be formed as a single body.

The spacer may comprise a plurality of spacers which are distant fromeach other along the lengthwise direction of the light guiding unit.

The scanner module may further comprise a plurality of reflectingmirrors between the document mount and the imaging lens to reflect lightfrom the object and change a traveling path of the light.

The scanner module may further comprise a window provided between theilluminator and the plurality of reflecting mirrors to restrict lighttraveling toward the sensor unit.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventiveconcept can also be achieved by providing an image scanning apparatuscomprising a scanner module, and an image processor that processes animage obtained by the scanner module.

The image processor may comprise at least one of: a file creating partto create an image file from the obtained image; and an image formingpart to form a printing image corresponding to the obtained image on aprinting medium.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventiveconcept can also be achieved by providing a scanning apparatus,including an illuminator having a light source holder having a lightsource to emit light, a light guiding unit lengthened in a sub-scanningdirection to change a traveling path of the light emitted from the lightsource, and a guide holder having an installation part where the lightguiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light sourceholder is mounted so as for the light source to provide the light towardat least one side of the light guiding unit.

The scanning apparatus may further include a document mount toaccommodate a document, and the light guiding unit may include first andsecond light guiding members spaced-apart from each other by a gap in adirection perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the light guidingunit to receive first light and second light from the light source in adirection and to emit the received first light in a first direction andthe received second light in a second direction toward a portion of thedocument, such that the first light and the second light are reflectedfrom the portion of the document and passes through the gap of the firstand second light guiding members.

The light guiding unit may further include a position determinerdisposed between the first and second light guiding members to separatethe first and second light guiding members by the gap and coupled to thelight source holder to determine a position of the light source withrespect to the first and second light guiding members.

The light source holder may include a first surface formed with a holeto correspond to the light source and the at least one side of the lightguiding unit, and a second surface extended from the first surface inthe lengthwise direction having a shape to correspond to and hold an endportion of the light guiding unit.

The light source holder may further include a holding rib formed on thesecond surface to elastically move to hold the light guiding unit.

The light source holder may hold an end of the light guiding unit whenthe light source holder is mounted to the mounting part of the guideholder.

The light source holder may hold an end of the light guiding unit whenthe installation part holds a middle portion of the light guiding unit.

The installation part may have a shape varying according to theinstallation of the light guiding unit to the installation part toelastically support the light guiding unit.

The light source holder may include a holding rib to elastically hold asurface of the light guiding unit, and the guide holder may include aspacer formed on a surface of the installation part to contact anothersurface of the light guiding unit such that a contact area between theinstallation part and the light guiding unit is reduced.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventiveconcept can also be achieved by providing a scanning apparatus,including an illuminator to illuminate light to a document mount, andhaving a guide holder having an installation part formed in a lengthwisedirection, and a mounting part formed on an end of the guide holder, alight source holder having a light source, and disposed toward the endof the guide holder to be coupled to the mounting part of the guideholder such that the light source emits light in the lengthwisedirection, and a light guiding unit disposed in the guide holder in thelengthwise direction, and having an incident surface to receive thelight from the light source in the lengthwise direction, and having anexit surface formed to have a length in the lengthwise direction totransmit the light in a direction having an angle with the lengthwisedirection.

The light guiding unit may further include a guide surface formedbetween the incident surface and the exit surface and having a firstside and a second side having an angle with the first side, and theinstallation part may include first and second installation parts tocorrespond to the first and second sides of the guide surface and toelastically move with respect to each other to elastically hold orsupport the light guiding unit.

The installation part may include a spacer to support the light guidingunit in the lengthwise direction and to provide a gap between a surfaceof the light guiding unit and a surface of the installation part.

The guide holder may include a holding part to support an end portion ofthe light guiding unit, and installation part may include a spacer tosupport the light guiding unit and to provide a gap between a surface ofthe light guiding unit and a surface of the installation part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating arrangement of optical elements in ascanner module usable with a multi-functional device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an illuminatorin the scanner module according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the illuminator in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the illuminator inFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the illuminator in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a light source holder in the scannermodule according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view illustrating an assembled state ofa guide holder and the light source holder of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned perspective view illustrating an exampleof an illuminator in the scanner module according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned perspective view illustrating an exampleof an illuminator in the scanner module according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an image scanning apparatus according toan exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below so as toexplain the present general inventive concept by referring to thefigures.

Referring to FIG. 1, a scanner module employed in a multi-functionaldevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept includes an illuminator 100 to illuminate light to anobject 15 placed on a document mount 10, such as a glass plate, animaging lens 200, and a sensor unit 300 to read image information of theobject 15 from light reflected from the object 15 such as a document orthe like, thereby scanning an image in a main scanning direction X. Thescanner module may include a driving unit to make a relative movementbetween the object 15 and the illuminator 100 in the main scanningdirection X so as for the object to be scanned in the main scanningdirection X.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illuminator 100 includes a light source110 to emit light, a light source holder 120 to hold the light source110, a light guiding unit 130 lengthened (formed in a lengthwisedirection thereof) in a sub-scanning direction Y having an angle withthe main scanning direction X to face the document mount 10, and a guideholder 150 having a guide holder main body 151, a mounting part 153, andan installation part 155 to hold the light guiding unit 130. Detailedconfigurations of the illuminator 100 will be described later.

The imaging lens 200 is disposed between the document mount 10 and thesensor unit 300, and focuses light reflected from the object 15 onto thesensor unit 300.

The sensor unit 300 reads information about the object 15 from lightfocused by the imaging lens 200. The sensor unit 300 has a single-rowstructure or a plural-row structure to scan a red/green/blue-colored orred/green/blue/black-colored image. That is, the sensor unit 300 mayinclude image sensors spaced apart from each other at a predetermineddistance and arranged in plural lows corresponding to colors.

Further, a mirror unit, such as a plurality of reflecting mirrors 400,may be provided between the object 15 and the imaging lens 200. Theplurality of reflecting mirrors 400 reflects light from the object 15and changes a traveling path of the light, thereby securing apredetermined optical path in a limited space in the image scanningapparatus or in a limited space between the document mount 10 and sensor300. If the plurality of reflecting mirrors 400 is added, the scannermodule can have a compact size while securing an optical distance tofocus an image between the object 15 and the sensor unit 200. FIG. 1illustrates four reflecting mirrors 400 by way of example, but notlimited thereto. Alternatively, the number of reflecting mirrors 400 mayvary as necessary.

Additionally, the scanner module according to the present embodiment mayinclude a plate 500 having a window 501 to restrict a light travelingtoward the sensor unit 300. The plate 500 is placed between theilluminator 100 and the plurality of reflecting mirrors 400 and screensout unavailable light reflected from the object 15.

FIGS. 2 through 5 are a perspective view, an exploded perspective view,a partially sectional perspective view and a sectional view of theilluminator 100 employed in the scanner module of FIG. 1 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept,respectively. Further, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the light sourceholder 120 in the scanner module of FIGS. 2 through 5 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, and FIG.7 is a partially sectional view illustrating an assembled state of theguide holder 150 and the light source holder 120 of FIG. 2.

As illustrated therein, the illuminator 100 is employed in the scannermodule and illuminates light to the object 15 on the document mount 10along the sub-scanning direction Y of FIG. 3 substantially perpendicularto the main scanning direction X of the scanner module.

The illuminator 100 includes the light source 110 to emit light, thelight source holder 120 to hold the light source 110, the light guidingunit 130 lengthened in the sub-scanning direction Y, that is, lightguiding unit 130 formed in a lengthwise direction parallel to thesub-scanning direction Y, to face the document mount 10, and the guideholder 150 to hold the light guiding unit 130.

The light source 110 includes a substrate 111 installed at the lightsource holder 120, and a light emitting diode 115 provided in thesubstrate 111.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source holder 120 may include afirst light source holder 120 a and a second light source holder 120 bprovided at opposite sides of the guide holder 150, respectively. Inthis case, the light source 110 includes first and second substrates 111a and 111 b provided in the first and second light source holders 120 aand 120 b, respectively. Here, at least one light emitting diode 115 isprovided at the first and second substrates 111 a and 111 b,respectively.

In the present embodiment, the light sources 110 are placed at oppositesides of the light guiding unit 130 by the first and second light sourceholders 120 a and 120 b, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, thelight source may be placed at one side of the first and second lightsource holders 120 a and 120 b.

The light guiding unit 130 changes a traveling path of the light emittedfrom the light source 111 so as to illuminate an image reading area ofthe document mount 10. The light guiding unit 130 may be provided inplural in consideration of the quantity of light illuminating the imagereading area or etc.

In this embodiment, the light guiding unit 130 of the illuminator 100may include first and second light guiding members 131 and 135. However,the present general inventive concept is not limited thereto. It ispossible that the number of light guiding members of the light guidingunit 130 may be three or more.

The first light guiding member 131 is made of a transparent material,such as glass, plastic or the like, and lengthened in the sub-scanningdirection Y to have a bar shape, for example. The first light guidingmember 131 has an incident surface 131 a, a guide surface 131 b, and anexit surface 131 c.

The incident surface 131 a may be a surface to receive the light fromthe light source 110, and may be formed on at least one of two endportions of the first light guiding member 131. The light source 110 isprovided to face the incident surface 131 a by the light source holder120.

The exit surface 131 c may face the document mount 10, and allow thelight reflected and diffused by the guide surface 131 b to exit towardthe object 15. The exit surface 131 c may be formed as a shape of acondensing lens.

The guiding surface 131 b is provided at two lateral sides of the firstlight guiding member 131 and guides the light incident on the incidentsurface 131 a to exit throughout the exit surface 131 c on the basis oftotal internal reflection.

The second light guiding member 135 is arranged in the vicinity of thefirst light guiding member 131 and has substantially the sameconfiguration and optical arrangement with the first light guidingmember 131, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.Here, the first and second light guiding members 131 and 135 are slantlyarranged in the guide holder 150 without interfering with a travelingpath of the light reflected from the object 15. That is, as illustratedin FIG. 1, center lines C₁ and C₂ of the light exiting from the firstand second light guiding members 131 and 135 are inclined with respectto a center axis Z along which the light reflected from the object 15travels toward the mirror unit and/or the sensor unit 300. The firstlight guiding member 131 and the second light guiding member 135 arespaced-apart from each other to form a gap therebetween to allow thelight reflected from the object 15 to pass through the gap.

The guide holder 150 guides the light guiding unit 130 and the lightsource 110 to be aligned at an installation position. For this, theguide holder 150 includes the mounting part 153 where the light sourceholder 120 is mounted to place the light source 110 at least one side ofthe light guiding unit 130, and the installation part 155 where thelight guiding unit 130 is installed.

In the case that the first and second light guiding members 131 and 135are provided as the light guiding unit 130, the installation part 155includes first and second installation portions 155 a and 155 b wherethe first and second light guiding members 131 and 135 are installed,respectively.

The installation part 155 is formed in the guide holder main body 151,extended in the sub-scanning direction Y, and shaped corresponding tothe shape of the light guiding unit 130. For example, the installationpart 155 is recessed to form an inward-tapered trapezoidalcross-section.

Accordingly, the light guiding unit 130 can be put down (disposed orinstalled) on the installation part 155 from over the installation part155, thereby decreasing or preventing a scratch or the like that may beformed on an exterior surface of the light guiding unit 130 when thelight guiding unit 130 is longitudinally inserted in the installationpart 155. In other words, the installation part 155 has a height shorterlength and is recessed to have a trapezoidal cross-section, so thatcontact between the light guiding unit 130 and the installation part 155is reduced when the light guiding unit 130 is installed at theinstallation part 155 in a direction of the height of the installation,thereby decreasing damage in the light guiding unit 130.

Meanwhile, the guide holder 150 may be made of a flexible material. Forinstance, before installing the light guiding unit 130 at theinstallation part 155, the installation part 155 may be narrower than aspace needed to be occupied by the light guiding unit 130 (refer to adotted line in FIG. 5). The guide holder 150 has an original shape whenthe light guiding unit 130 is installed in the installation part 155,and another shape changed from the original shape when the light guidingunit 130 is installed in the installation part 155 such that the guideholder 150 can elastically hold the light guiding unit 130 and tightlyhold and support the light guiding unit 130.

Thus, the installation part 155 becomes wider when accommodating thelight guiding unit 130 therein and tightly holds the light guiding unit130.

In addition, the illuminator 100 may include a spacer 160 providedinside the installation part 155 to contact and/or support the lightguiding unit 130.

While the installation part 155 accommodates the light guiding unit 130therein, the spacer 160 directly supports the light guiding unit 130,thereby spacing the light guiding unit 130 from the installation part155. Thus, the spacer 160 stably supports the light guiding unit 130even though the guide holder 150 is manufactured with the installationpart 155 having a deformed space or the like. Accordingly, the lightguiding unit 130 is prevented from bending and is maintained in astraight line position.

Here, the spacer 160 may include a plurality of spacers provided along alengthwise direction of the light guiding unit 130, which are distantfrom each other. That is, the spacer 160 may include first through thirdspacers 160 a, 160 b and 160 c. The first and third spacers 160 a and160 c are placed at opposite end portions of the installation part 155,and the second spacers 160 b are placed at a middle portion of theinstallation part 155. Thus, each of the first through third spacers 160a, 160 b and 160 c can support the light guiding unit 130 at threepoints, i.e., opposite lateral walls and one bottom of the installationpart 155.

Further, a space between the opposite spacers formed at the lateralwalls is narrower than the width corresponding to the light guiding unit130. Thus, when the light guiding unit 130 is installed in theinstallation part 155, the guide holder 150 is elastically transformedto secure an occupying space for the light guiding unit 130 while bringthe light guiding unit 130 into closely contact with the spacers.

Here, the spacer 160 and the guide holder 150 may be formed as a singlebody to thereby enhance assembling efficiency and reduce productioncosts.

The light source holder 120 may include a holding part 121 to hold thelight guiding unit 130 installed in the installation part 155. Theholding part 121 protrudes from the light source holder 120 and has aninner portion shaped corresponding to the exit surface 131 c of thelight guiding unit 130, so that it directly or indirectly contacts theexit surface 131 c of the light guiding unit 130, thereby preventing thelight guiding unit 130 from moving up and down.

The light source holder 120 may have at least one hole 120 c to allowthe light emitted from a light emitting diode 115 to be incident on theincident surface 131 a of the light guiding unit 130. The holding part121 may protrude from a plane having the hole 121 to contact the endportion of the light guiding unit 130 (131 and/or 135) such that theholding part 121 of the light source holder 120 and the installationpart 155 of the guide holder 150 can hold and support the light guidingunit 130.

In addition, the light source holder 120 may include a holding rib 123provided on the holding part 121. The holding rib 123 partially contactsthe light guiding unit 130 when the light guiding unit 130 is installedin the installation part 155, thereby holding the light guiding unit130.

The holding part 121 may have a surface 120 b having a shape correspondto a shape of the exit surface 131 c of the light guiding unit 130 andextended from a surface 120 a of the light source holder 120 toward alengthwise direction of the light guiding unit 130, and the holding rib123 may protrude from the surface 120 b of the holding part 121 toward aplane of the exit surface 131 c of the light guiding unit 130.

Also, the illuminator 100 may include position determiners 171 and 175to determine an installation position of the light source holder 120with respect to the guide holder 150. The position determiners 171 and175 are formed at corresponding positions in the guide holder 150 andthe light source holder 120, respectively, and each of the positiondeterminers 171 and 175 has a symmetrical shape. Thus, the light sourceholder 120 is coupled to the guide holder 150 along a guide of theposition determiners 171 and 175, so that the light source holder 120and the guide holder 150 are quickly and precisely assembled.

It is preferable but not necessary that the light source holder 120 isjoined to the mounting part 153 of the guide holder 150 by a snap-fitstructure. The snap-fit structure makes the assembly easy rather thanscrews or bonding.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the light source holder 120 is jointed to themounting part 153 in the lengthwise direction of the light guiding unit130. To join the light source holder 120 with the mounting part 153, ahook member 181 and a projection 185 are provided.

Refer to FIGS. 6 and 7, the hook member 181 protrudes from a surface ofthe light source holder 120 facing the guide holder 150, and theprojection 185 is formed in the guide holder 150 at a position tocorrespond to the hook member 181. Further, the hook member 181 and theprojection 185 are formed with slant contact parts 181 a and 185 a,respectively. Accordingly, when the light source holder 120 is insertedin the guide holder 150 along the lengthwise direction of the lightguiding unit 130, the hook member 181 is elastically transformed as thecontact parts 181 a and 185 a meet each other. Then, the hook member 181is readily hooked to the projection 185 with a snap, thereby joining thelight source holder 120 with the guide holder 150.

In the meantime, while the light source holder 120 joins with the guideholder 150, the light guiding unit 130 may be scratched because acontact point between the holding rib 123 and the light guiding unit 130moves.

To solve this problem, the holding rib 123 may have a tapered shape asillustrated in FIG. 6. The tapered shape of the holding rib 123 canreduce or prevent the scratch on the light guiding unit 130 when thelight source holder 120 joins with the guide holder 150.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the holding rib 123 includes a neckpart 123 a to stably hold the light guiding unit 130 even though thelight guiding unit 130 is thermally expanded in its height direction.The neck part 123 a is provided between the holding part 121 and theholding rib 123.

The neck part 123 a may have a groove or a gap to separate a distal endof the holding rib 123 of the guide holder 120 such that the distal endof the holding rib 123 can elastically move with respect to the holdingpart 121.

If pressure applied to an outer surface of the holding rib 123 increasesas the light guiding unit 130 is thermally deformed, the neck part 123 ais elastically transformed as shown in the dotted line of FIG. 6.Accordingly, the light guiding unit 130 is stably held and supportedwithout damaging the holding rib 123. Meanwhile, the structure of theholding rib 123 against the thermal deformation of the light guidingunit 130 is not limited to the neck part 123 a and may vary. Also, thelight source holder 120 may be made of an elastic or flexible materialto stably support the light guiding unit 130.

In the foregoing embodiment, the hook member 181 is provided in thelight source holder 120 and the projection 185 is provided in the guideholder 150, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, the hook member maybe provided in the guide holder 120 and the projection may be providedin the light source holder 150.

Further, the hook member is not limited to the foregoing structure andmay have a structure illustrated in FIG. 8, for example. In this case, ahook member 182 includes an extended portion 182 a extended from thelight source holder 120, and a head portion 182 b formed at an end partof the extended portion 182 a. Here, the head portion 182 b is widerthan the extended portion 182 a.

Also, the guide holder main body 151 is formed with an accommodatingpart 186 shaped corresponding to the hook member 182. Thus, the hookmember 182 is coupled to the accommodating part 186 by a snap-fitmanner, thereby joining the light source holder 120 with the guideholder 150.

Alternatively, the light source holder 120 may join with the mountingpart 153 in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of thelight guiding unit 130 (refer to FIG. 9). In this case, the illuminator100 includes a hook member 183 and a projection 187 in order to join thelight source holder 120 to the mounting part 153.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the hook member 183 protrudes down from alateral side of the light source holder 120, and the projection 187 isformed in the guide holder 150 at a position to correspond to the hookmember 183. Further, the hook member 183 and the projection 187 areformed with slant contact parts, respectively, and cause the hook member183 to be smoothly hooked to the projection 187 with a snap, therebyjoining the light source holder 120 with the guide holder 150.

In this embodiment, while the light source holder 120 joins with theguide holder 150, the light guiding unit 130 is radically prevented froma scratch because a contact point between the holding rib 123 and thelight guiding unit 130 is not changed.

In this illuminator with the foregoing configuration, the light guidingunit and the light source are precisely aligned and quickly assembled.Further, the light guiding unit is stably supported and straightlymaintained.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an image scanning apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

As illustrated therein, the image scanning apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept includes ascanner module 610, and an image processor 620 to process an imageobtained from the scanner module 610. Here, the image scanning apparatusincludes a multi-function printer (MFP), a digital copier or a scanner.

The scanner module 610 may be substantially similar to the scannermodule of FIG. 1, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will beomitted.

The image processor 620 includes at least one of a file creating part621 to create an image file from an image obtained by the sensor unit300 (refer to FIG. 13) of the scanner module 610, and an image formingpart 625 to form an image corresponding to the obtained image on aprinting medium.

As described above, in the multi-functional device having the scannermodule and the image scanning apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept, the guide holderhas the installation part and the light guiding unit is installed in theinstallation part in a height direction of the installation part,thereby reducing a scratch or the like on the light guiding unit.Further, the position determiner allows the light guiding unit and thelight source to be precisely aligned, thereby achieving preciseassembly. Also, the light source holder joins with the guide holder bythe snap-fit manner, thereby enhancing productivity.

Further, the guide holder is made of a flexible material, so that thelong and thin light guiding unit can be stably supported even though theguide holder is deformed, thereby maintaining the light guiding unitstraightly.

Accordingly, the image scanning apparatus employing the illuminator isdecreased in production costs, increased in productivity, and improvedin precise illumination to thereby reduce a scanning error.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present general inventiveconcept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit of the general inventiveconcept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and theirequivalents.

1. A multi-functional device comprising: an image forming apparatus toform a printing image; and a scanner module to scan an image in a mainscanning direction, including: an illuminator to illuminate light to adocument mount, and comprising a light source to emit light, a lightsource holder to hold the light source, a light guiding unit which islengthened in a sub-scanning direction, faces the document mount andchanges a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source toilluminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises aninstallation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and amounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide thelight source at least one side of the light guiding unit; a sensor unitto read an image information of an object placed on the document mount;and an imaging lens which is disposed between the document mount and thesensor unit and focuses the light reflected from the object onto thesensor unit.
 2. The multi-functional device according to claim 1,wherein the light source holder joins with the mounting part by asnap-fit manner.
 3. The multi-functional device according to claim 2,wherein the illuminator further comprises: a hook member provided in oneof the light source holder and the mounting part; and a projectionprovided in the other one at a position opposite to the hook member. 4.The multi-functional device according to claim 2, wherein the lightsource holder joins with the mounting part in a lengthwise direction ofthe light guiding unit.
 5. The multi-functional device according toclaim 2, wherein the light source holder joins with the mounting part ina direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the light guidingunit.
 6. The multi-functional device according to claim 1, wherein thelight source comprises: a substrate installed at the light sourceholder; and a light emitting diode provided on the substrate.
 7. Themulti-functional device according to claim 2, wherein the light sourceholder comprises a holding part to hold the light guiding unit installedin the installation part.
 8. The multi-functional device according toclaim 1, wherein the installation part is recessed inwardly andlengthened in the sub-scanning direction, and the light guiding unit isfitted into the installation part from over the installation part. 9.The multi-functional device according to claim 8, wherein the guideholder is formed with flexible material so that the installation partcan become wider as pushed by the light guiding unit while installingthe light guiding unit therein.
 10. The multi-functional deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the illuminator comprises a spacerprovided inside the installation part so that the spacer can contact andsupport the light guiding unit when the light guiding unit is fittedinto the installation part.
 11. The multi-functional device according toclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of reflecting mirrors betweenthe document mount and the imaging lens to reflect light from the objectand change a traveling path of the light.
 12. The multi-functionaldevice according to claim 11, further comprising: a window providedbetween the illuminator and the plurality of reflecting mirrors torestrict light traveling toward the sensor unit.
 13. An image scanningapparatus comprising: a scanner module including: an illuminator toilluminate light to a document mount, and comprising a light source toemit light, a light guiding unit which is lengthened in a sub-scanningdirection, faces the document mount and changes a traveling path of thelight emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount,and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the lightguiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light sourceholder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of thelight guiding unit, a sensor unit to read an image information of anobject placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens which isdisposed between the document mount and the sensor unit and focuses thelight reflected from the object onto the sensor unit; and an imageprocessor that processes an image obtained by the scanner module. 14.The image scanning apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the imageprocessor comprises at least one of: a file creating part to create animage file from the obtained image; and an image forming part to form aprinting image corresponding to the obtained image on a printing medium.15. A scanning apparatus, comprising: an illuminator comprising: a lightsource to emit light; a light source holder to hold the light source; alight guiding unit lengthened in a sub-scanning direction to change atraveling path of the light emitted from the light source; and a guideholder having an installation part where the light guiding unit isinstalled, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mountedso as for the light source to provide the light toward at least one sideof the light guiding unit.
 16. The scanning apparatus according to claim15, further comprising: a document mount to accommodate a document,wherein the light guiding unit comprises first and second light guidingmembers spaced-apart from each other by a gap in a directionperpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the light guiding unit toreceive first light and second light from the light source in adirection and to emit the received first light in a first direction andthe received second light in a second direction toward a portion of thedocument, such that the first light and the second light are reflectedfrom the portion of the document and passes through the gap of the firstand second light guiding members.
 17. The scanning apparatus accordingto claim 16, wherein the light guiding unit further comprises a positiondeterminer disposed between the first and second light guiding membersto separate the first and second light guiding members by the gap andcoupled to the light source holder to determine a position of the lightsource with respect to the first and second light guiding members. 18.The scanning apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light sourceholder comprises a first surface formed with a hole to correspond to thelight source and the at least one side of the light guiding unit, and asecond surface extended from the first surface in the lengthwisedirection having a shape to correspond to and hold an end portion of thelight guiding unit.
 19. The scanning apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the light source holder comprises a holding rib to elasticallyhold a surface of the light guiding unit, and the guide holder comprisesa spacer formed on a surface of the installation part to contact anothersurface of the light guiding unit such that a contact area between theinstallation part and the light guiding unit is reduced.